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R. P. SCOTT. PENCIL CLASP.

(No Model.)

. No. 312,296. Patented Feb. 17, 1885.-

N4 PETERS. Phmumugn m Washington. a. c

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

ROBERTP. SCOTT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PENCIL-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,296, dated February 17, 1885.

Application filed March 31, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT P. Soorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil- Olasps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure l is aview in perspective of a pocket and a fragment of a garment, showing my improved pencil-clasp with a pencil in position therein. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the pencil-clasp unattached, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

Like letters of reference mark the same parts in all the figures.

My invention has for its object to furnish a cheap, simple, and reliable device, whereby a pencil or pen-holder may be held securely when in a pocket or other place of safety or storage, and will at all times be ready for instant use as well as at all times ready for securing again, either in the same or some other desired place.

To these ends my invention consists in a pencil-clasp composed of a spring claspingtube for receiving, encircling, and holding a pencil, and a spring-arm projecting therefrom at the end in a direction substantially parallel with the line of the tube extended, or the pencil when in the tube, said arm being at its point of juncture with the tube bent slightly outward, thence inward to or near said line, and thence outward, terminating at a point outside of said line, whereby when the pencil is inserted in the clasp and placed in a pocket or other receptacle, the spring-bar will pass on the outside thereof, forming one jaw of a clamp of which the pencil forms the other jaw, the spring-bar being formed integral with the clasp-tube, or being rigidly secured thereto.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A is a tube, composed in this case of sheet metal bent into cylindrical form, the edges meeting at a, but not secured together, whereby the resiliency or elasticity of the metal is availed of to close the tube tightly upon any object passed therein. Joined to this tube, (or, as

(No model.)

shown in this instance, formed as part of the same sheet of metal,) at one end thereof, as at b, is a spring-arm, B, the portion 12 being bent outward, the portion b inward, and the end outward, as fully shown. The middle portion, 12 to or near aline drawn from the tube, as at x in Fig. 3, and the end b project outside of and at a slight angle to said line. The line a: is the line of the pencil when clasped in the tube, and as a consequence of the manner of construction of the spring-arm B, just heretofore d escribed,the point 12 thereof is in contact with the pencil when in the clasp, and a space, b, V-shaped, is formed, by means of which the spring-arm readily passes outside of the pocket, when the pencil is pushed in. Thus the pencil is firmly held in the poohet, the outside of the pocket being clamped between the pencil and the spring-arm. The pencil in this position is shown in Fig. 1, and is marked 0.

It will be seen that the pencil cannot drop out of the clasp, nor can the clasp drop off the pocket; but the pencil and clasp may be readily removed together, and the clasp and clamp will in nowise interfere with the use of 75 the pencil. N o manipulation of the springclamp arm is necessary, its action being selfadjusting.

The whole device always remains on the pencil and the pencil may be clamped and held on the lapel of a coat, a waistband, or a suspender, as well as in position shown.

The tube may be made of coiled wire, the end thereof forming the spring-bar.

The device is extremely simple and cheap and at the same time thoroughly reliable.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A pencil-clasp consisting of a tube provided with a spring-arm projecting from it and extending beyond its end, whereby when the pencil is in position in the tube it will form one jaw of a clasp of which the projecting end of the spring-arm forms the other jaw, which clasp serves to retain the pencil in position in the pocket, as set forth.

2. The pencil-clasp herein described, consisting of the clasp-tube A, having the arm B, projecting at b from it and beyond the end I In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 10 thereof, and having an outward-projecting in presence of two witnesses. end, b, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The spring pencil clasp, consisting of ROBT. P. SCOTT. clasp-tube A, having the spring-arm B formed I integral therewith and projecting from and \Vitnesses: beyond the end thereof, said arm being bent JOHN WILLIAMS, outward at b and b and inward at W, as and THOS. H. MORISON. for the purpose set forth. 

